Buncombe County ranked 19th healthiest county in NC, a drop from No. 14 last year

A national study released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute shows that Buncombe County remains one of the top 20 counties in the state for overall county health rankings for the third year in a row. However, the No. 19 ranking received this year was a drop from the No. 14 spot held by the county last year. (Graphic by Emily Busey)

Fryar apologizes for harsh words, calls for A-B Tech trustees to resign

In a letter sent to several local media outlets, Buncombe County Commissioner Mike Fryar apologized for calling A-B Tech President Hank Dunn a “little Hitler” and a “sick little puppy.” But the freshman commissioner continues to lambast the president in the new letter, arguing that Dunn acted outside his job description in a way that “undermines the authority of the full Board of Trustees.” He also calls for trustees who worked with Dunn on the maneuver to resign.

Exhibit spotlights hidden local African-American history

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds Office has opened an exhibit to commemorate the 150-year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and to remember those who were enslaved and their immeasurable contributions to our community. Along with the exhibit, the county has produced a short documentary, Forever Free, which features historians and descendants of slaves speaking on the significance of these records and the importance of acknowledging our past. Watch it here.

Post-recession Buncombe still struggling­, local poverty rates surpass state and national average

After sharing 42 slides worth of charts, data and graphs, an independent economic consultant speaking to local doctors, health advocates, politicians and board members at the Feb. 22 meeting of the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services made a conclusion: Though the recession started five years ago, the numbers show that Buncombe County still has “a ways to go.” Highlights of the presentation, along with the full presentation, can be found in this post. (Slide image courtesy of SYNEVA Economics)

Building knowledge: Asheville pushes for new schools

Education officials, teachers and even some students are pushing to build cutting-edge new homes for Isaac Dickson Elementary and Asheville Middle School. The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will consider the proposals soon, some of them questioning the need for high-tech designs when budgets are already stretched thin. Even supporters don’t know where the estimated $60 million cost might come from.

Use tax dollars to support more students

I enthusiastically support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education in our schools, but there are many issues with putting it in the location recommended by the Buncombe County school board. The school will serve only 6 percent (400) of our high school students. Why not build STEM Learning Centers in our six comprehensive high […]